Anyone like to help try and solve a local history mystery? Very little to go on but we've had some success before!

[YeOldeTrot]

Hello

I'm back and calling on the Mumsnet history sleuths

I posted last month with a little jewellery box and we made some fascinating discoveries but this one is TOUGH

So, we have a photo. This photo was clearly once in a newspaper - possibly North Wilts Herald.

The couple in this photo are receiving bunches of flowers and it's believed that it was their Golden Wedding Anniversary and they were having their pic taken for the paper.

As for the year ... hard to say but clearly late 60s - early ish 70s?

So we've not got much.

Any pointers appreciated

@TeabySea

@Epicureous

@queenofthorns

I'm tagging you guys as you indicated you'd like me to gone you a heads up on new investigations 😀

And this photo was definitely taken in Wantage, Oxfordshire - no doubt if the location

God the typos! Hopefully you get my gist

I think earlier. My Nanna had those glasses but died before I was born. I'd say 1958-62

@foreverbasil you could well be right tbh. Perhaps it is earlier in the 60s or even the late 50s

It HAS to be in the newspaper as that's what it was taken for.. just can't bloody find it

And it's a golden wedding anniversary celebration as per the shiny ribbons on the bouquets. Pretty sure they're gold and the age of this couple would indicate they've been married for 50 years

Is it just the date you're trying to find out?

@TigerOnTour (not an ex driver are you?!! You'll only get that if you had a previous username!)

No, I'd like the names of these people. Not for nefarious reasons, a local historian has been trying for years! No success.

But these people were in the paper! Celebrating a specific event! How tricky can this be?

Why do you think it was in the North Wilts Herald if it was taken in Wantage?

Newspaper photographers generally took a number of photos for each assignment they did but would then choose just one for publication. So there is no guarantee that this has ever been published in a newspaper.

No clue on the year, but it will be late August or September, because those are chrysanthemum in the garden

@TheCompactPussycat good question!

I'm basing that on what the local historian believes. I'm not entirely sure why he might think it was the north wilts herald - I'm going to ask him!

I thought they were dahlias! This is the trouble with black and white images.
I'm tempted to say 60s based on the smart shirt & tie and style of glasses.

I will take a proper look later as currently between tasks

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen an amazing observation! Thank you

Oh I love puzzles like this!
The dress is from a Simplicity pattern published in 1963 I think





@TeabySea thanks! I'm tempted by the 60s too. It's got that vibe and they could be 50s glasses but I bet she'd had them a while!

No one I know. Only 50 odd million people to go.

I would say the style of glasses is the biggest clue, and I would say 60s. That and the photo is B&W. Color I think started becoming more popular in the early 70s I think.

Sorry picture won't post

Can you not put it on the local neighbourhood Facebook sites - someone might say it’s my old neighbours or the milkman or Uncle Fred and Auntie Gertxxx
Good Luck x

Sorry, I'm not an ex driver!

The window is open so yes to the suggestion of Aug/September.

It's likely his name is John because about 30% of men of that generation were!

I can't see how you'd get much further than that unless someone realises that this is their Granny and Grandpa. Could you join a local FB group in the area to see if anyone remembers them?

Why was it "clearly once in a newspaper?"

@foreverbasil ha! That's bloody amazing you've spotted that

@GasPanic oh you'd be totally amazed at what some of these history sleuths can do. Truly astonishing

And you're right - black and white would indicate before the 70s

@TigerOnTour not one taker over the years! It's been shared a few times as we assumed someone would know their relatives as it's in fairly recent times

@GasPanic the papers would come out and take photos of these big anniversary celebrations and give them flowers

I'm almost certain that it appeared in a local rag

When you say no doubt about the location, do you know the actual address of the house? If you do, would the land registry list previous owners?

Would second the idea of posting on a Wantage FB page to ask if anyone recognises them.